CIA Director Statement Thanking CIA Employees

"Today, we have rid the world of the most infamous terrorist of our time.  A US strike team stormed a compound in Abottabad, Pakistan and killed Usama Bin Ladin.  Thankfully, no Americans were lost, and every effort was taken to avoid civilian casualties." That's the beginning of a thank you note from CIA director Leon Panetta to CIA employes.

The CIA is McLean's large employer and many of our neighbors have connections to the Agency. We thought you might like to read the Director's statement that was posted on the CIA website Monday morning.

"Within our Agency family, our thoughts turn to those who died fighting to make this day possible.  Our brothers and sisters who gave their lives in the war against al-Qa’ida—from Mike Spann to our heroes at Khowst—are with us, in memory and spirit, at this joyful moment.  In all that we do, they are our constant inspiration.

"My deepest thanks and congratulations go out to the officers of our CounterTerrorism Center and Office of South Asia Analysis for their outstanding expertise, amazing creativity, and excellent tradecraft.  I also extend my profound appreciation and absolute respect to the strike team, whose great skill and courage brought our nation this historic triumph.

"The raid was the culmination of intense and tireless effort on the part of many dedicated Agency officers over many years.  Our men and women designed highly complex, innovative, and forward-leaning clandestine operations that led us to Bin Ladin. 

"One operation would yield intelligence that was carefully analyzed and then used to drive further operations.  Along with our partners at NGA, NSA, and ODNI, we applied the full range of our capabilities, collecting intelligence through both human and technical means and subjecting it to the most rigorous analysis by our government’s leading experts on Bin Ladin and his organization.

Here's the Director's complete statement.